Dental articulator



May 18, 1954 L. A. F|NE DENTAL ARTICULATOR 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Nov. 14. 1949 May 13, 1954 A. FINE DENTAL ARTICULATOR Filed Nov. 14, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A rrylr Patented May 18, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DENTAL ARTICULATOR Louis Adrien Fine, La Palisse, France `Application November 14, 1949, Serial No. 127,155

Claims priority, application France July 6, 1949 7 Claims.

Articulators of which use has been made up to the present day for the making of dental prostheses or the artificial replacement of teeth intended for completely toothless persons all provide in quite an imperfect manner the functional movements that they are to execute; they are not capable of producing themselves the correct relation between the movements of the temporemaxillary jointing and the actual jaws of the patient. No articulator for the interlocking of the movements of the upper and lower mclars has so far succeeded in generating the natural functional movement,\no standard form of articulators is therefore physiological or productive of the normal functions. i 1

Furthermore, in various scientific interchanges of ideas, stress has been laid always on the complexity of the diagram of the temporo-maxillary or mandibular point and the ensuing great difficulty in creating a reproduction of the joint itself.

The object of my invention is a dentists articulator operating in conformity with anatomically and physiologically correct principles. It includes teeth-carrying members that are exact replicas of `humancranium bones and that reproduce perfectly `the operative movements of human jaws, whereby previously encountered inconveniences are removed.

My improved articulator comprises upper and lower `members forming exact replicas of the temporo-maxillary bones, the interengaging surfaces of which are in exact conformitywith the average shape of a mans cranium and said membersare associated with bodies engaged between the upper member and the parts of thelower member `corresponding `to the condyles, said bodies corresponding to the complete menisci of the temporo-maxillary jointing. These menisci glenoid cavities and ofthe Zygomatic processes,`

while `the mandible member includes, replicas of the coronoid processes, ofthe condyles and of the necks of the mandible. l

The articulator according to cludcs furthermore: ,l l An interlocking systemincluding aiclamping screw at. the rear "of the mandible` member.

my invention in- Elastic attachments having fixed points of insertion on the two members and corresponding respectively to the constrictor muscles and to the depressor muscles.

A box adapted to enclose the records of patterns.

, Sub-nasal reference marks and chin reference marks.

Other characteristic features of my invention will furthermore appear more clearly from the following disclosure, reference being made to accompanying diagrammatic drawings, given by way of a non-restrictive example and illustrating an embodiment of the invention. In said drawings:

Fig. l is a perspective view of the lower member Of the articulator Fig. 2 is a perspective view from below of the rear piece of the upper member;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view from below of the front piece of the upper member;

Fig. 4 is an elevational side view of the articulator in its closed position incorporating the parts shown in Figs. l, 2 and 3 with the addition Y of a quadrant;

Fig. 5 is a similar view of the articulator in its open position.

My improved articulator includes two main members of which the lower one, which is a replica of the mandible, is formed by a single piece while the upper member includes two pieces, the rear piece being shown in Fig. 2 and the front piece in Fig. 3. l

The rigid mandible member illustrated in Figs. 1, 4 and 5 is a substantial replica of an average human mandible as shown at 2, said member including a central piece 3 balancing the weight of the teeth on the articulator and strengthening the part forming a replica of the symphysis of the mandible,` a rear balancing part 4 and a stylus-carrying front part 5. The mandible member 2 is furnished close to the neck of the condyle with a lug 6 into which is screwed a screw 1 for general interlocking purposes as disclosed hereinafter. l

The upper member which isa replica of the upper maxillary includes an upperfront piece (Fig. 3) and an upper rear piece (Fig. 4). The front` piece thereof (Figs. 3, 4 and 5) is provided with `a sub-nasal part 8, a box9 inside which is carried a reference diagram, the interlocking part I0 for connection with the upper rear piece and the additional naso-frontal piece l 2.

`The upper rear piece (Figs. 2, 4 and 5) is provided with a central part I3 intended to carry the upper tooth pattern, a left side partl Ui and a right side part I5. The left side part l is furnished with a cam IB for engagement with the lower member and with a part IlV cooperating with the lug on the lower member for the interlocking of the upper and lower main pieces. The right side part l5 is provided with a cam I8 similar to cam I6.

The upperand lower members are hinged to-V gether through their cooperating surfaces that are exact replicas of the corresponding parts of `an average skull, with the interposition of the two small members i9 which are in their turn exact replicas respectively of an average right hand and Vleft hand meniscus,I including, the

synovial membrane. Rubber Ystrips of similar di- Y follows: Y

Assuming it is closed and each of the two members; sffllrished With a tooth pattern as shown in Fig. 4, and as far as the relative depression movement Yof the main lower member i.V e., the opening movement of the main lower member relative to the main upper member is concerned,

Y the operator should exert a stress toV open the articulator through a lowering ofthe lower Vmember inwhich 'case the two, members act as levers and transmit sai-d stress to the menisci.

The @ellisY I6; and I3 on the left side; and right side pieces lli and i5 are submitted to a turning movement so that they swing into engagement with the rear portion of the condyles 23 forming the upperends of the VVrnandible member as shown in Fig. l whereby this turning movement is brought to a, stop. While the drivingA stress is still operative` and the constrictor strip ZI urges thetemporo-maxillary or mandbular jointrinto its closedV position by pressure, the menisci yare pushed forwards; they slide but their concavityf is set against the convexity of the temporomaxillary joint.

the operative stress.r constrainsthemto move forwardly as allowed by the shape given to the different surfaces engagingthe menisciv `and thatV Y arestrictly in accordance with the corresponding surfaces ofan average human skull. These sur,- faces engaging the menisei form akind of gear therewith so as to reduce the amplitude of the lowering movement of the mandible member. If, furthermorey artransvers'e Vmotion is associated with the movement just described, it is transformed into a rotation` through the agency of the forward movement of the menisci, under the action of the heads of the condyles of the mandible memberon the upper member. r

Y The jaws are returned into their closed position and then the teeth arefground toobtainfa correctv play in the articulator. Y

It must be observed that the tempore-maxillary artieulatormovement of the surfaces serving for articial dental prostheses is registered byv grinding the tooth surfaces,

closing of the jaw are obtained through the submeniscal joints while the front prehensory, masticating the lateral movements are produced through the supermeniscal surfaces.

The articulator members are secured together solely through the rear clamping screw on the left hand rising arm of the mandible member, this screw allowing furthermore a gradualad* justable opening of the jaws. Y

`The articulator 5 operates in the same manner asY the conventional articulators, and correspondinglyplaster patterns are made and fastened by means' of jointing wax while the reference points taken onthe. mouth of the patient correspond exactly to predetermined points on the articulator.

The inner pattern carrier has for its advantage the possibility of providing through a clamping screw the holding or the release ofthe plaster castas desired.

The advantages of my improved articulator are chiefly asfollows:

Its operation correspondsexactly to human behaviour since its joint is an exact replica of the human tempore-.maxillary joint and the elastic.

strips act exactly in the mannerl of the depressor f mark and the aural channel;

The addition of thenaso-'frontal part -I2k gives the articulator a viinish that allows defining directly the facial angle and the Simon line, i.,e. the perpendicular line from Ytheipoiiflt'of the greatest slope of theorbitalrecess, Y g 1 Thev presence of the'subnasal and chin reference marksenables one to check the arrangement of the upper medial piece under control of Cuviers angle, i. e, the angle between the lines connecting the centre point of theV incisorswith the frontalk point andthe aural channel respectively; z i

The operation of the articulator is extremely easy;

The redueedspeedof closing of the articulator members; allows; a considerable" accuracy inY the checking ofthe dental prostheses;

The twemembersand associated menisci. bring an automaticremedy to-any defect in the mounting andfor instaneaa tooth projecting beyond the normal closing line of the mandible isauto matically duplicated onthe opposedcorrespond- Y inglsurfaces,

Obviously; my invention isA by no means rcstricted to the embodiment .disclosedY and it covers all modications thereof fallingwithin the-scope; of the accompanyingclaims; Y

Whatlclaimis: Y L f f i 1. Anarticulator for dentists, adapted torre,- producethe movements of. a humanV jaw, com:

vprising. two members constituting replicasl of A normalhuman,temporo-maxillary bones, each'i'n-V As the meniscus I9 divides the temporo-maxil-A cluding a. surfaceithatis a substantial replicaV of the intrengaging surfacesv of thecorresponding human bones,` and auxiliary. members insertedl between said surfaces of the rstmembersoandl constitutingsrsubstantial replicas of thezmenisci ofa normal human skull.

2. An articurator.v foridentistan adaptedrtogreg produce the: movements Vofa humanjaw;V com prising two members constituting replicas of normal human temporo-maxillary bones, each including a surface that is a substantial replica of the interengaging surfaces of the corresponding human bones, and auxiliary members inserted between said surfaces of the rst members and constituting substantial replicas of the menisci of a normal human skull and elastic strips interconnecting the two rst members to control their relative movement.

3. A dentists articulator, comprising an upper member constituting a substantial replica of a temporal bone piece of a normal human skull, said member including substantial replicas of the two Zygomatic extensions and a nose piece provided with a subnasal reference mark, said bone piece being provided further with a substantial replica of human glenoid recesses, a lower member forming a substantial replica of a human mandible and including substantial replicas of the mandibular condyle ends and a chin member provided with a reference mark, and auxiliary members forming substantial replicas of complete human menisci including the synovial membranes tted in the same manner as the menisci in the human skull between the replicas of the condyle ends and the replicas of the glenoid recesses. i

4. A dentists articulator, comprising an upper member constituting a substantial replica of a temporal bone piece of a normal human skull, said member including substantial replicas of the two Zygomatic extensions and a nose piece provided with a subnasal reference mark, said bone piece being provided further with a substantial replica of human glenoid recesses, a lower member constituting a substantial replica of a human mandible and including substantial replicas of the mandibular condyle ends and a chin member provided with a reference mark and auxiliary members constituting substantial replicas of completehuman menisci including the synovial membranes fitted in the same manner as the menisci in the human skull between the replicas of the condyle ends and the replicas of the glenoid recesses and elastic strips connecting the Zygomatic extensions with the lower member.

5. In an articulator, the provision of a lower member and an upper member adapted to assume a relative movement with reference to each other and the surfaces of which engaging each other during said relative movement are shaped as substantial replicas of the upper ends of the mandible condyles and of the glenoid recesses on the maxillary bone respectively and intermediary members fitted between said surfaces of the two rst members and constituting substantial replicas of the menisci in human skulls.

6. In an articulator, the provision of a lower member and an upper member adapted to assume a relative movement with reference to each other and the surfaces 0f which engaging each other during said relative movement are shaped as substantial replicas of the upper end of mandible condyles and of the meniscal recesses on the maxillary bone respectively and intermediary members i'ltted between said surfaces of the two first members and constituting substantial replicas of the menisci in human skulls and elastic strips interconnecting the lower and upper members.

7. An articulator for dentists adapted to reproduce the movements of a human jaw comprising members constituting replicas respectively of the temporo-maxillary bones, of the condyles and of the menisci, the interengaging surfaces of said members constituting substantial replicas of the interengaging surfaces of the corresponding human bones, condyles and menisci, the menisci being fitted between the interengaging surfaces of the replicas of the temporo-maxillary bones.

References Cited in the le 0f this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,471,019 Wilson Oct. 16, 1923 1,588,091 Burch June 8, 1926 2,389,101 Whittemore Nov. 13, 1945 

